Our Cat has Nine Lives

DECEMBER 19–Christmas in Pittsburgh

Here we are in Pittsburgh! All is well. We’ve settled in to our apartment. Christmas Eve will mark 8 months of waiting on the transplant list. And now marks a year since Caitlin has been in need of one. Last December, she bought herself a tree, brought it home, and decorated it—-then caught the virus that “broke the camel’s back.” The tree was beautiful! Here it is:

We arrived in Pittsburgh on Monday. The city is festive and our apartment is comfortable. Caitlin and Andrew decorated the tree. For the first time, we have colored lights, but this is a different kind of Christmas, Caitlin says, and it’s all about doing new things.

I can tell you that there is great relief in knowing that we are close to the hospital, and I no longer need to keep the emergency list of medical transport services with me at all times.

Happy holidays to everyone! I’ll post some photos of Pittsburgh in the coming days. It’s an interesting place.